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Names+Faces: Springer celebrates 25 years

AP
Published 12:05 a.m. ET Sept. 22, 2015

In this image released by NBC, host Jerry Springer, left, appears at the taping of his 25th Anniversary show in Stamford, Conn. Springer, 71, is all aboard for another year on the crazy train, and plans to stay as long as he’s healthy.(Photo: NBC)

The “Jerry Springer Show,” long maligned as the worst show on TV, degenerated into its 25th season Monday with a champagne-soaked spectacular that includes cabaret dancers, midgets and cabaret-dancing midgets.

In fact, Springer said, he couldn’t tone it down if he wanted to. “I’m contractually obligated,” he said. “What the affiliates are buying is a show about craziness.”

He does have a serious side. Twelve years ago, Springer ran for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. He first ran for Congress in 1970 as an anti-war candidate, he became mayor of Cincinnati in 1977 and later had a career as anchor on Cincinnati’s highest-rated newscast.

“Know this,” he said during Monday’s season premiere. “There’s never been a moment in the 25 years of doing this show that I ever thought I was better than the people who appear on our stage. I’m not better. Only luckier.”

No more Lucky

Fans around the world are wondering: What will we read at the beach now that author Jackie Collins is gone?

Her passing from breast cancer at age 77, on Saturday in Los Angeles where the British-born beauty, sister of actress Joan Collins, had long lived, came as a shock to millions, famous and not, because she chose to keep her illness of more than six years to herself and close family.

“I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say,” she told People a week before she died. “I’ve written five books since the diagnosis, I’ve lived my life, I’ve traveled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now, when I feel as though I should come out with it.”

Her first smash hit, 1983’s “Hollywood Wives,” sold more than 15 million copies, leading to sequels and a TV miniseries in 1985 starring Anthony Hopkins, Candice Bergen, Angie Dickinson and Suzanne Somers.

Barbie has announced that it will present Zendaya with a one-of-a-kind doll, modeled off her Vivienne Westwood look from the Oscars red carpet.

Barbie, which introduced more diversity into its doll lineup earlier this year, will display Zendaya’s doll at the Barbie Rock ‘N Royals Concert Experience on Sept. 26 in Los Angeles. Zendaya is hosting the event, which will benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

“I’m excited to be a part of the new direction the Barbie brand is headed, specifically how they are celebrating diversity in the line and encouraging kids to raise their voices,” Zendaya said in a release.

“Fashion Police” host Giulana Rancic came under fire earlier this year for criticizing Zendaya’s long hair at the Oscars, saying, “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil and weed.”

Wanna be Lucy’s BFF?

Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts world is about to get a population explosion.

A new website from the creators of the upcoming “The Peanuts Movie” (in theaters Nov. 6) allows fans to transform themselves into Schulz-inspired characters and share the results on Facebook and Twitter.

PeanutizeMe.com visitors can chose a Peanuts-inspired avatar and specify their own hairstyle, skin color, eyes, nose, mouth, outfits and accessories. They can even choose which Peanuts setting they want to be in (from the school dance to the famed ice skating pond).

“A guy that I’d known for my whole life, one of my closest friends growing up, he had been shopping pictures of my baby around,” the 38-year-old told GQ. “I kind of got in front of it, which is good. But it was a slightly dark period. A bad couple of weeks.”

Reynolds is married to Blake Lively.

Briefly

■Grammy-winning soul gospel singer Cissy Houston, mother of Whitney Houston, will be honored at the Gospel Image Awards in Charlotte, N.C. Houston will be the lifetime achievement honoree at Saturday’s event.

■Jack Larson, who played eager cub reporter Jimmy Olsen on the first “Superman” TV show, died at his Los Angeles home on Sunday. He was 87.